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All Forums >> [Current Games From Matrix.] >> [World War II] >> War In The Pacific - Struggle Against Japan 1941 - 1945 >> After Action Reports >> RE: Dacca is relinquished

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RE: Dacca is relinquished - 12/1/2004 2:12:51 AM

wobbly

Posts: 1095
Joined: 10/16/2002
From: Christchurch, New Zealand
Status: offline

Dacca falls, Trim is in a bad way and Kungchang suffers the greatest losses, without surrender, that I have so far seen in the game.

Mud: I have 1600 or so PP - I spent 2000 on getting the Oz 2nd attached to the Southeast Asian sphere recently. I am likely to have to return a BB to the UK soon and that will eat another 2000. Surprisingly it is terribly interesting to play - each turn makes my stomach turn. I watch it coming down my ancient dial up connection and start fretting.

Denison: I think you hit the nail on the head - he managed to wrap other locations up so quickly that he has been able to hit India before it really had an opportunity to get upright.

Strv: yeah - can't upgrade them but they are still useful. They have a good range and will provide a higher chance of a bombing attack taking place. No good in defense obviously.

herb: try it again at your own risk mate

I am managing to control my retreat far better in our game. You are still causing me headaches but that is to be expected.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/24/42

Naval bombardment of Trimcomalee, at 15,25 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Japanese Ships
CL Abukuma
CL Natori
CL Nagara
CA Kumano
CA Mikuma
CA Haguro
CA Chokai
CA Takao
BB Hyuga
BB Ise
BB Yamashiro
BB Fuso
BB Nagato
BB Kirishima
BB Hiei
BB Haruna
BB Kongo

Allied Ships
TK Empire Onyx, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
AK Poelau Bras, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
68 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Runway hits 17
Port hits 8

in the battle of Trimcommalee he continues to get his BBs to bombrad but the still have ashortage of shells and wont hit as hard as they usually do. It is still doing the job for him though. The facilities will require about 2 weeks of work to repair and I just don't have that sort of time.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Maizuru 2nd SNLF, at 67,97

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 14
SBD Dauntless x 170
TBD Devastator x 30

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
87 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

A massive coordinated strike against the Jap troops still sitting around Lunga. PzB dismisses this as nothing to do with Rapier - he is right but it is important in the scheme of landing the base force which is now on its way around the southern coast of the Island.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Lae at 54,87

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 19

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
PG Hakkai Maru, Shell hits 4
AG AG-352
AG AG-357
AG AG-122

The P-39s fly again but the P-40s slated to escort refuse to join them. This means the less than spectacular fighter aspect of teh P-39s is shown up rather badly. It may be time to try a sweep over PM first.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Dacca

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 151442 troops, 1290 guns, 767 vehicles

Defending force 1156 troops, 5 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese assault odds: 3292 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Dacca base !!!

Allied ground losses:
524 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

The massive forces at Dacca charge over the parapets and around the detritus of war, piled up in the streets of Dacca, and fall upon the Chandpur base force - only. It is one sided in the extreme but, yet again, this hardy unit retreats! Nothing can hide the fact that Dacca has fallen however.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Kungchang

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 248375 troops, 2538 guns, 592 vehicles

Defending force 69802 troops, 378 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 3

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 3

Japanese ground losses:
1271 casualties reported
Guns lost 36
Vehicles lost 1

Allied ground losses:
9103 casualties reported
Guns lost 86

Unbelievable losses - Essentially it means I have to try and run straight back to Chungking as I am about to loose the place and the troops - will this ever end? The whole of the Norht of China is lost. He will probably shock attack next turn and follow me at the same time so he will be in the city to the North to add insult to injury. I have to try and retreat to the West to get out of the noose. It will be a long trek in the wilderness for the units that get off the paths though.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Trimcomalee

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 30940 troops, 203 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 10053 troops, 90 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2

Japanese ground losses:
268 casualties reported
Guns lost 6

Allied ground losses:
634 casualties reported
Guns lost 18

1 to 1 odds in Trim and another fort level lost. My units are moving far too slowly without the benefit of rail. They are only 30 miles out of Trim - at this pace they must resist the attacks tomorrow or they will be forced to retreat. The one bright light is the fort level is at 2 with 100% to the next level - I think this means I will have level 3 forts??? As you may have noticed I set all my bombers up to hit the Jap troops at Trim this turn and none of them flew. My only hope is this does not continue tomorrow as I need them to put a dent in the Jap capacity... just give me a small break you heartless gods of war!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The 2 Regiments of the 18th land in Bombay. I will head them towards Bangledesh via a southern route.

The loss of Dacca and his assault with follow orders means my hope of sitting across the river and making defending both Asansol and Calcutta may be pointless. The units that have just arrived in the hex between Dacca and Calcutta have no forts and I cannot compete against his forces without them. So this means I have to retreat to Calcutta and give up Asansol. he can then get in behind me and my compounded problems begin to get worse. Asansol only has a level 1 fort. The issue is: will he go after Calcutta first. If he does he is liekly to want to bring along the whole morass of units he currently has. There will be little requirement to defend Dacca as the units in Chandpur can simply move up. I cannot take Chandpur from the sea when he controls the air. At least his attacking units - if he attacks mine across the river - will be once again disrupted from the crossing. It doesn't appear to be enough though does it...

China is just a nightmare. I am not trying to hold locations anymore it is completely escape his encirclement - that is the only thing I am going to try and accomplish. The attack towards Sian is still on - it has better chances as he gets further up the slow trails of the north.

Hermes makes it to Broome, loads 2 Kittyhawk sqds and fuel, then departs back towards India. the 2nd Oz is still loading. A 6000 type AP is holding up the works - as it is I didn't have enough lift capacity to load the whole Division.

The Carriers in Lunga will hit the Jap units again and this time teh RCT is joining in with a shock attack - probably loose more troops than he does again.

An A-14 Sqd and another PBY sqd land in Noumea.

(in reply to herbieh)

Post #: 211

Kungchang falls - Trim close behind - 12/2/2004 4:10:01 AM

wobbly

Posts: 1095
Joined: 10/16/2002
From: Christchurch, New Zealand
Status: offline

Useless bombers refuse to hit Trimcommalee. Chinese smashed out of Kungchang. UK forces retreat in good order to Calcutta in time to watch massive aerial dogfights above their heads.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/25/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Chandpur , at 30,25

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15

Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 5
Hurricane II x 17
Blenheim I x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway: 2 destroyed
Hurricane II: 1 damaged
Blenheim I: 2 damaged

Some high level bombing of his airfield at Chandpur achieves absolutely nothing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Calcutta , at 29,23

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
Ki-21 Sally x 48
Ki-46-II Dinah x 4

Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 8 destroyed, 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 5 destroyed, 4 damaged
Blenheim IF: 8 destroyed, 6 damaged
Blenheim I: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 42

A very punishing aerial attack on the facilities at Calcutta. Quite a few ACs are destroyed. The Hurricanes manage to get amongst the attacking bombers and knock a few down. They pay for their impudence later in the day.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Calcutta , at 29,23

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 32

Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 14 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IF: 1 destroyed

Runway hits 1

Unescorted Nells get met by the same Hurricanes and they can't believe their luck - has the Jap dropped his bundle?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Koepang , at 28,77

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 52

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-46-II Dinah: 3 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
35 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 27

Koepang is the base on the western coast of Timor. I thought there might be zeros based here so was a little worried. In fact there are recon aircraft. I expect they are being used for search and I am trying to go around them with the Oz 2nd and Hermes TFs.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Tenimbar , at 36,81

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4

Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 4
Buffalo I x 13
Hudson I x 15
Beaufort V-IX x 14
B-25C Mitchell x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Brewster 339D: 2 destroyed
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged

Port supply hits 2

Hullo - PzB has had enough of me bombing Tenimbar as well as places further north. He places some zeros on LRCAP. One of my Brewsters manages to shoot a zero down! Obviously their experience is starting to benefit from the training,
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lae , at 54,87

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9

Allied aircraft
Catalina I x 1
P-40E Warhawk x 22

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Catalina I: 1 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed

Conversely my sweep of Lae causes a loss rather than losses on the enemy.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Day Air attack on 4th NLF , at 67,97

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 14
SBD Dauntless x 150
TBD Devastator x 30

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
373 casualties reported

Another carrier attack on Lunga to supress the Japs is far more successful than yesterday. I follow this up with a shock attack by the troops stationed there....
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 17th Indian/A Division, at 29,23

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 30
G3M Nell x 16
G4M1 Betty x 6
Ki-21 Sally x 24
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 10

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 21 destroyed

Allied ground losses:
59 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

And then the zeros arrive above Calcutta. The morning heros become the afternoon corpses. Hurricanes try to mix it and suffer. I loose 15 Hurricanes today 11 of which are in the air. Strangely they appear to be from one sqd flying at a lower altitude. I had two other sqds at Calcutta and they are not so badly bruised. the two experienced Hurricane sqds in China are making their way back to India - they are in Mandalay at the moment.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 17th Indian/A Division, at 29,23

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23
G4M1 Betty x 20

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
60 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Not a single hurricane is available to rise and met the later threats...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Kungchang

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 247080 troops, 2504 guns, 591 vehicles

Defending force 59873 troops, 147 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese assault odds: 14 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Kungchang base !!!

Japanese ground losses:
710 casualties reported
Guns lost 23
Vehicles lost 2

Allied ground losses:
3305 casualties reported
Guns lost 94

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

The Chinese cannot handle the heat and retreat. As previously posted I am going to head off into the forest and try to get away from the encircling hoards.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Trimcomalee

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 30851 troops, 194 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 9344 troops, 70 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

Japanese ground losses:
111 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Allied ground losses:
494 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Damn damn damn. My bloody bombers refuse to fly again. It is killing any chance I have of retreating intact! He will take Trim tomorrow - but worse than that he will force me to retreat and in so doing will stop any ability I have of holding Columbo. The retreating units will get the normal catastrophic disruption.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Lunga

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 4681 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 1614 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1

Japanese ground losses:
23 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
50 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Oh for gods sake - why are allied troops so pitiful!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PzB notices the arrival of my Indian troops to Ceylon and starts reconning Madras. I still have half and infantry Division there (albeit the damaged half) and the 2 Regiments of the 18th start moving out of Bombay. How many more Divisions can these Vermin have? Madras is not strongly held but may be able to put up a fight while they wait on the arrival of the 18th regiments. My attempt to reinforce Calcutta is getting frittered away on its way there. Dakotas stationed at Madras are being moved back to Burma to start moving units into India. Another Regiment and UK Division are now 19 days out of Karachi.

The B-17s currently stationed in Madras are going to Columbo on one last ditch effort to hit Trim. My troops are 30 miles out - I desparately need another day!!! He is so likely to shock attack and follow. If he does that and my bombers don't disrupt him then I am doomed.

In Calcutta I am going to rely on AAA this turn and give my fighters a break. I think he will sweep and I want to be able to call on substantial fighter reserves to counter his attacks. I have 6 Hurricane sqds, 1 Mohawk, 1 Wirriway, 1 Buffalo and one Lysander sqd to play with - hardly makes happy reading!

Hermes is on her way North. I have started to get the KB willies again as I haven't seen from them in a while. Scouting planes found a CVL this turn but that may be all there is. If he has moved the KB south it could meet my reinforcements coming north. I detach a DD from the Hermes group to run tripwire 7 hexes in front of the air combat group.

The cactus airforce comes into being with the landing of a base unit at Lunga. Almost all damage is repaired here now and the sqd of Wildcats takes over defense of the landing. the Carriers moves away to the East and pearl.

More pieces are coming together in Pearl for Rapier. It is possible that the KB has left the Bay of Bengal on its way to the Pacific now that he feels he has taken all coastal locations. Of course, without positive ID I have to make these assumptions.

(in reply to wobbly)

Post #: 212

RE: Georgetown or bust - 12/2/2004 7:12:21 PM

Strv103C

Posts: 90
Joined: 11/28/2004
From: Sweden
Status: offline

It looks grim now. I wonder if the Philiphines would have lasted one or two weeks longer, would that have been enough to defend India proper?
I�m worried about India in my own PBEM and I think that the Philiphines must last long. But one of my B17s from Mindanau planted a bomb on Riujos flightdeck and hope its gone for a few months now. There was no PM strike from that carrier and the TF was split up so it must have been hurt.

Pat

(in reply to wobbly)

Post #: 213

madras on teh hit list - 12/3/2004 4:38:59 AM

wobbly

Posts: 1095
Joined: 10/16/2002
From: Christchurch, New Zealand
Status: offline

Trimcommalee falls - Madras is next (where will it end). Calcutta is pounded from the air and at last I find the KB again - phew.

Strv: It truly is a hard time to be allied. I have two full Divisions and 5 or so Indian divisions (equivalent of a brigade) + 2 1/2 tank brigades against his 8 Divisions plus masses of artillery tanks and engineers - let alone his god forsaken airforces.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/26/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 131 encounters mine field at Madras (18,21)

Japanese Ships
MSW W.9
MSW W.6
MSW W.5

Here is the pittance of a minefield at Madras - harkening back to a day when I thought Madras was 'well behind the lines'.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TF 131 encounters mine field at Madras (18,21)

TF 131 troops unloading over beach at Madras, 18,21

362 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
MSW W.9
DD Hatsukari, Shell hits 9, on fire
AP Ryoyo Maru
DD Manazuru
AP Oyo Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
AP Mizuho Maru

Japanese ground losses:
679 casualties reported
Guns lost 7

Allied ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

The landings in Madras start - for once he does not prepare his way with BB bombardment. I imagine they are half way to Rangoon by now.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 131 encounters mine field at Madras (18,21)

TF 131 troops unloading over beach at Madras, 18,21

Japanese Ships
MSW W.9
MSW W.6
MSW W.5
DD Hatsukari, on fire
PC Ishigaki

Coastal Guns at Madras, 18,21, firing at TF 131
373 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
AP Seattle Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Manazuru, Shell hits 3
AP Santos Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
CA Chikuma
AP Sanko Maru, Shell hits 7, on fire
AP Ryujo Maru
MSW W.9
AP Ozan Maru, Shell hits 1
AP Oigawa Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
898 casualties reported
Guns lost 6

Allied ground losses:
79 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1

The field guns and CD unit start to take serious toll on his landings.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Calcutta , at 29,23

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2
Ki-21 Sally x 53
Ki-46-II Dinah x 4

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 2 destroyed, 8 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IF: 7 destroyed, 12 damaged
Blenheim I: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged
Hurricane II: 11 destroyed, 12 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 6 destroyed, 5 damaged

Allied ground losses:
210 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 17
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 28

A whole swag more planes taken out on the ground: this is a very fine tuned thing you have to accomplish. You should be setting your sqds to 'no replacements' until they move to a rear area location. Some of the sqds that lost planes are set to replenish their losses but they all arrive as damaged ACs. In a location such as Calcutta these grounded planes are just more points for your adversary.
The damage to the runways is repaired by morning and some of the damaged planes not destroyed are also ready to fly - the engineering compliment of Calcutta showing their mettle.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 23rd Indian Division, at 18,21

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 31
D3A Val x 97
B5N Kate x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 27 damaged

Allied ground losses:
162 casualties reported
Guns lost 7

Here is the KB. I also get a search plane report of the Shokaku off the coast of Madras so they are not moving back to the Pacific.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 2nd UK/C Division, at 29,23

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 35
G3M Nell x 16
G4M1 Betty x 17
Ki-21 Sally x 23
Ki-46-II Dinah x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 1 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 7 damaged
Ki-21 Sally: 4 damaged

Allied ground losses:
135 casualties reported
Guns lost 6

Large casualty figures from the lack of fighters defending my men.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Madras at 18,21

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 21

Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 10
Wirraway x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 13 destroyed
Wirraway: 11 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Haguro, Torpedo hits 1
CA Chikuma

The swordfish I had at Madras sortie after the invasion shipping. As I now know there are plenty of zeros about thanks to the KB being in attendance. Stringbags come apart all over the place - unfortunately the pilots are of very high calibre and continue their attacks - a critical hit is claimed agains the CA Hagaru.

The swordfish are a one shot option. They retire to bombay (well what's left does) to replenish numbers. Hagaru will not sink so essentially I threw all of these planes away for nothing. There in lies the quandary for the allies. You have aircraft that you cannot use as they are just zero fodder, so you sit and watch the invasions come in and you are completely unable to do anything about it!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Trimcomalee

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 31023 troops, 194 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 1840 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese assault odds: 554 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Trimcomalee base !!!

Allied ground losses:
183 casualties reported

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

A small ray of sunshine - somehow my troops decide to move the extra 30 miles in one day. They are out of Trim when the coup de grace falls and they therefore still have a fighting capacity.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lunga

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 6491 troops, 44 guns, 3 vehicles

Defending force 1595 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 10 to 1

Japanese ground losses:
131 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
68 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

At last I start to met out more damage than I take. The addition of the troops with the cactus air base unit has made a large difference to the combat odds. The 16 dauntlesses now located here can start to bomb the stranded troops as well. Hopefully my losses can outstrip his from now on.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

India continues to provide pain upon pain. The large supply and fuel cache in Trim will mean his BBs can hammer any coastal hex with impunity. Planes are already located here - more zeros most like.

The bomber units at Columbo are set to low level naval attack at range 3 (hopefully discounts attacks on the KB) - hopefully they can take out some of the shipping in Trim harbour and force him to populate the airfield with more fighters than he really wants to.

Madras is deep in the crap like everywhere else. I keep having to rob peter to pay paul (Madras was denuded to try and resist in Trim). In this case I cannot supply enough able bodied troops to defend the city. I also cannot send troops from another location - nowhere is within range of my Dakotas. Either way he lands yet another Division - the 55th. I just cannot defend locations with Brigades against Divisions - further to this I'd actually like to be defending with Brigades, at times (like this one) I can't even manage this.

Around Calcutta I can see he is about to take the German doctrine of bypassing areas of strength. He has reconned the forces in Arse-ansol and is likely to take that place out and try and come around through the back door rather than cross yet another river. I have populated Calcutta with 5 hurricane sqds, 1 Warhawk sdq and 1 Mohawk sqd. The hurricanes and mohawks are flying high and the warhawks low. I doubt I will do anything except down my own aircraft but a few of his attacks have come in without escort and if they do that before the escorted raids I may just manage to hurt him. To exentuate this I have set the B-17s and a sqd of Blenheims to night bomb Chandpur. There is a massive stack of ACs there.

Hermes and Co are making very good time and now I know where the KB are it is not so worrying as to a mid-ocean intercept. They tank tomorrow.

The Carriere below Lunga depart and head south before turning East adn heading towards Pearl.

In Pearl the III Corp HQ, 25th and 26th USA Division, and eng regiment and a Tank regiment start loading...

(in reply to Strv103C)

Post #: 214

RE: madras on teh hit list - 12/3/2004 11:49:41 AM

Andy Mac

Posts: 15222
Joined: 5/12/2004
From: Alexandria, Scotland
Status: offline

Try not to despair if you do you will set me off.....

(In another game my opponents have kicked 7 bells out of me and are about to do what PZB is doing to Wobbly in this one and Invade India in March I am not nearly as prepared in that game as I should be and I now can see exactly the despair that Wobbly feels as I dont see how I can stop them)....

My only advantage over you Wobbly is that seeing how this battle was going (and having overcommitted to Burma) I evacced the entire Burma Army through the trails back to India.

The end result is that most of my Burma Army (heavily fatigued is about 20 miles from the rail head in North Burma) and I am getting one or two units a day back into the road/rail net in India.

Having read this thread I'm not sure whether to defend Chandpur or not !!!

I think the end result of this AAR is going to be all Allied players becoming paranoid about India and forcing Allied players to be less aggressive about deploying to defend Burma so you are really performing a public service Wobb

Forcing us all to be realistic in our use of force

Andy

(in reply to wobbly)

Post #: 215

RE: madras on teh hit list - 12/3/2004 1:28:06 PM

toraq

Posts: 405
Joined: 10/24/2004
Status: offline

Hi wobbly,

Very interesting AAR but I can�t understand a couple of things:

Where�s your Burma army? Troops from Rangoon? Do you get some reinforces in Karachi? When?

The most powerful resource you have now: B-17. Is the only thing that can beat zeros CAP. Why are they not flying missions in the India front?

I�ve been thinking about this and there�s little hope in India, unless you transfer your
1) CVs to beat him in India, to force a carrier battle and stop future japanese reinforces transported by sea.
2) Transfer B-17 to the area. They�re the only ones that can really disrupt their land forces
3) Get some land troops from anyware to stop him

Even so, maybe its too late now. To loose India doesn�t mean that you lost the war unless there is some rules regarding to points in a certain time (don�t remember this but check it out)
Don�t think your counter offensive would distract the enemy to his main objective, India but:
1) It�s a way of taking the offensive, get some morale!. Morale for you is also important!
2) Get points in order to avoid a sudden victory
3) Future bases for future operations

The only way he would stop his offensive in India would be something astonishing, landing in Truk or Palau. If you do that the entire Central and South pacific would be isolated Kwajalein, Rabaul and so on but in doing so you could loose your entire fleet...and the war!.

Anyway, good luck Wobbly!

(in reply to Andy Mac)

Post #: 216

RE: madras on teh hit list - 12/3/2004 4:51:58 PM

tsimmonds

Posts: 5498
Joined: 2/6/2004
From: astride Mason and Dixon's Line
Status: offline

If this was happening to me, I believe I'd be giving serious consideration to pulling back to Karachi. He is as strong now as he will ever be in the IO, while you, though presently at a nadir, will only get stronger. I know you have lots of boys in Burma who wouldn't be able to make it there before he shuts down the LOC, but if in Burma you are neither conducting offensive operations nor trying to support lots of a/c, surely you could gradually withdraw towards China and eke out the supply there for a few months or a year? I know it sounds grim, but how much grimmer if you lose Bombay and Karachi? No more supplies nor reinforcements.

_____________________________

Fear the kitten!

(in reply to toraq)

Post #: 217

RE: Chandpur falls - 12/3/2004 8:19:01 PM

BlackVoid

Posts: 639
Joined: 10/17/2003
Status: offline

While you wait for him to move out of Chandpur, he may load everything on ship and head for another place on the coast....

(in reply to herbieh)

Post #: 218

RE: Chandpur falls - 12/5/2004 7:25:31 AM

wobbly

Posts: 1095
Joined: 10/16/2002
From: Christchurch, New Zealand
Status: offline

The RAF come out in force - and die like flies. However their sacrifice is not entirely in vain - many Japanese bombers are taken out as well.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/27/42

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TF 131 encounters mine field at Madras (18,21)

TF 131 troops unloading over beach at Madras, 18,21

Japanese Ships
MSW W.9
MSW W.6
MSW W.5
DD Hatsukari
DD Manazuru
PC Ishigaki
PC Shimushu

Coastal Guns at Madras, 18,21, firing at TF 131
253 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
AP Seattle Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Manazuru, Shell hits 1, on fire
MSW W.9, Shell hits 7, on fire
AP Ryujo Maru
CA Chikuma, Shell hits 1
AP Mizuho Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
PC Ishigaki, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
437 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

The continued landings in Madras are incurring damage to his shipping - he has shipping to burn though so he wont be too worried about that. As he so impudently points out - he now has a very good port to put the wounded ships into.
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Day Air attack on Calcutta , at 29,23

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
Ki-21 Sally x 40
Ki-46-II Dinah x 4

Allied aircraft
Mohawk IV x 11
Hurricane II x 54
P-40E Warhawk x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 55 destroyed, 16 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Mohawk IV: 1 damaged
Hurricane II: 8 destroyed, 4 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed

Runway hits 2

He must have looked at this attack and swallowed. Well I hope he did. His 4 zeros still manage to knock down 5 hurricanes. however, the point is the sallies got pounded. Over 20 are destroyed, and just as importantly most of teh bomb groups are turned around. He should have to rest them before they are effective again (plus replace the numbers).
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Day Air attack on Bengal Construction Regiment, at 29,23

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 33
G3M Nell x 8
G4M1 Betty x 16
Ki-21 Sally x 15
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

Allied aircraft
Mohawk IV x 11
Hurricane II x 50
P-40E Warhawk x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 29 destroyed
G3M Nell: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 7 destroyed, 5 damaged
Ki-21 Sally: 4 destroyed, 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Mohawk IV: 14 destroyed
Hurricane II: 40 destroyed, 7 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 8 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied ground losses:
108 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 4

The next attack has plenty of zeros in attendance and they make their presence felt. In total 35 Hurricanes are lost today - most during this battle. The plus to this is I manage to knock down 15 zeros as well so he will be scrapping together very poor replacement pilots. He may actually disband a few groups in order to keep up the quality.
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Day Air attack on 7th Armoured/A Tank Brigade, at 29,23

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 9
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

Allied aircraft
Mohawk IV x 4
Hurricane II x 17
P-40E Warhawk x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 15 destroyed
Ki-46-II Dinah: 2 destroyed

Despite my whipping in the earlier battle enough planes are aloft to great these unescorted Nells. They press their attack and are splashed for their courage.
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Day Air attack on 23rd Indian Division, at 18,21

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 30
D3A Val x 94
B5N Kate x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 9 destroyed, 38 damaged

Allied ground losses:
146 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

The KB is continuing it's evil ways off Madras. I imagine I will get a hit from the ground troops in the next turn.
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Day Air attack on 23rd Indian Division, at 18,21

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5
Ki-21 Sally x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 3 damaged

The first attack on Madras from his new base in Trimcomalee.
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Day Air attack on TF, near Trimcomalee at 15,25

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 2
Blenheim I x 3

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Asama Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

At last the RAF based at Columbo actually take to the air. A very effective attack by 3 Blenheims.
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Day Air attack on TF, near Trimcomalee at 15,25

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 14
Blenheim I x 12
Blenheim IV x 23

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim I: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Ceylon Maru
AP Bokuyo Maru
AP Buyo Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Kozui Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Yudachi, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Biyo Maru
AP Ayaha Maru, Bomb hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
155 casualties reported

Then the real attack comes in and finds ships loaded with troops. Are they coming or going? Interestingly he only has one zero daitai here - maybe he will need to denude osme other location to look after the base here.
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Day Air attack on TF at 56,88

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 23

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AG AG-373, Shell hits 4, on fire
AG AG-363, Shell hits 16
AG AG-353, Shell hits 8, on fire
PG Shinko Maru #1, Shell hits 8
AG AG-116

P-39Ds may be awful fighters but they are much beter boat busters. The 37mm shells getting extra damage reports.
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Sub attack at 20,5

Japanese Ships
SS I-174

Allied Ships
DD Express, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Burnie
MSW Bendigo
MSW Cromer
DD Nizam
DD Napier

Express is hit by a torp and in this case the ASW ships can't find its assailant. She should make the two hexes back to Karachi.
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The air defense effort is labeled a success - but it is fearsomely costly. The Japs loose 57 ACs and I loose 52 - 35 of which are the hurricanes. As someone pointed out before (sorry haven't looked to identify you) there is a problem with the number of pilots I have left in the British pool. Not all of my pilots will have been killed today but a hefty number will have and I only have 87 trained pilots left in the pool. I don't want to have notihng left when it comes time to introduce the Spitfires.

All sqds are moved out of Calcutta and set to accept replacements. It will take some time before I am able to conduct another defense like that. The Naval bombers in Columbo are also sent further into India. I imagine I will get a visit from BBs or level bombers - I will almost certainly meet more zeros above trim as well.

My extra engineers have made it to Calcutta and to Asansol. There presence instantly moves the fortification effort along.

Above Rangoon the base units I have been waiting on are about to make it to the rest of the troops. I can then start to retreat back to India.

The Chinese units in north are making their way off the trail into the Jungle for their long trek to Chungking. It will take the better part of a year to get there.

Little else is happening in the war effort.

Thanks for all of the input guys. I will try and answer som eof the questions and also get back on some of the plans.

I have one group of B-17s and they are at Diamond Harbour. I have tried to night attack his airfields for the last two turns and the weather has been in the way. I don't entirely agree with you about the B-17's invulnerability. Without escort they WILL get taken out by zeros - it does not appear to be the same as UV in that respect. Even if they don't they are temperamental about suffering damage and will abort their missions due to morale issues. As to why are there no more there - it is not easy to get them there. I made a decision at teh beginning of the game to move the B-17s to Oz. Now I have to ship them to India - another convoy of AKs is on its way to Darwin to attempt to do just that. He has taken Trim though so getting them through will be fun.

Irrelevant: letting him have all of India will lengthen his supply lines but also provide him with massive supply producing capacity, I think the gain will easily look after his troops. I am trying to use rivers and fortified towns to slow him up. He has taken out size 9 fortified towns already - what would stop him doing the same in Karachi? the final part of the answer also addresses Blackvoids concerns - I can see where most of his forces are - they are right outside Calcutta. If he starts to do as you say then I will have to look to retreat to guard Karachi - I think I would start really commiting what I had left of the royal navy at that point - do or die.

The Burma army waited on base units that retreated badly. THat is about to end - I have waited too long and admit that was a mistake. What this has done though has allowed the Chinese to come and take the torch - I have about 8 Divisions of Chinese troops there now - no good for attakcing but maybe for defending - or even threatening his holdings in bangladesh - this is an important point he has to keep these places garrisoned - each succesful capture whittles down the bulk of the army.

As to attacking elsewhere and moving the Carriers to the Indian ocean. Yes these are thoughts that do come ot me - what really is the point of taking Kwajalein - it isn't in his way really. Maybe an attack on the Kuriles? The KB is still a mighty force to be reckoned with, if I lost the carriers I really would be so deep in it that I could not get out. The points alone would be likely to give him auto-victory.

Andy - thanks for the encouragement - I am SOOOO pleased I could provide this important public service

(in reply to BlackVoid)

Post #: 219

RE: Chandpur falls - 12/6/2004 11:01:16 AM

Raverdave

Posts: 6520
Joined: 2/8/2002
From: Melb. Australia
Status: offline

Mate keep up the good work ! It is good to see one of the dominion's finest military minds fighting the good fight to defend the pink empire !

_____________________________

Never argue with an idiot, he will only drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

(in reply to wobbly)

Post #: 220

RE: Chandpur falls - 12/6/2004 11:51:14 AM

Strv103C

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Joined: 11/28/2004
From: Sweden
Status: offline

It will be a long war until the jap finally surrender, but they will.

Attachment (1)

(in reply to Raverdave)

Post #: 221

RE: Chandpur falls - 12/6/2004 2:58:18 PM

Andy Mac

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Joined: 5/12/2004
From: Alexandria, Scotland
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Hmmm how much force has he landed at Madras ?

This seems the key if he can take Madras and forge inland he can flank you !!!.

I hate to say it but if he takes Madras I think its time for the fall back 'oh **** im in trouble' type of plan

I am thinking start prepping troops and building forts at the North India defensive line. i.e. Ahmadabad - Delhi line just in case he takes Madras

Anyway my 2 cents worth .... good luck
Andy

(in reply to Strv103C)

Post #: 222

RE: Chandpur falls - 12/6/2004 4:03:06 PM

Andy Mac

Posts: 15222
Joined: 5/12/2004
From: Alexandria, Scotland
Status: offline

Basically what I am saying is that if you are flanked from the Calcutta corner and you dont have rested prepped troops I dont see how central India can be saved as there are to many axis of advance and you cannot stop him anywhere.

Slow him down yes but not stop him.

Buy time to fortify the Wobbly Line er no let me rename that the Maginot Line errr no perhaps not...hmmm the um err hmm ah I know the Himalaya Line (not a prediciton of where he is going to push you back to).

The advantage of this strategy is you force him to keep forces in India while Rapier hits home elsewhere.

(All of this is nonsence if you can hang on in Madras !!!)

Andy

(in reply to Andy Mac)

Post #: 223

RE: Chandpur falls - 12/6/2004 9:20:23 PM

Hornblower

Posts: 1361
Joined: 9/10/2003
From: New York'er relocated to Chicago
Status: offline

Excellent AAR! For what its worth, your bleeding him now....

(in reply to Andy Mac)

Post #: 224

Madras Falls - 12/6/2004 11:28:21 PM

wobbly

Posts: 1095
Joined: 10/16/2002
From: Christchurch, New Zealand
Status: offline

Sorry folks - missed a report. Last turn we both traded blows in night attacks and he bombed and destroyed quite a number of my ACs on the field at Calcutta.

This turn is marked by a B-17 raid on Rabaul, the fall of Madras (sigh), his heavy occupation of Calcutta.

Andy: The loss of Madras is horrible (I will go into it further later) but is not the tragedy it first appears. While he took Madras with a single Division it is not that hard to contain. As soon as he starts moving on the rail network he can start to go around me... but that works both ways. If he takes on Bangalore for instance I will threaten Madras. As you so rightly point out he will have to keep units in both locations and what this is doing is pulling the troops he may have earmarked for the Pacific away. Rapier is turning into a massive effort. 4 Divisions and 3 Rcts plus base units, HQs, engineers and tank units. I think Kwajalein - with 12 units - will have trouble resisting, although the way his troops in Lunga have hung on I may be wrong (and that would REALLY hurt).

Raverdave: I think I fall a long way short of your accolades - I have made some incredible blunders!

STRV103c: I really have to thwart an auto-victory then maybe I can come back...

Hornblower: Yeah mate - that fighter defense hurt him - but I paid heavily for it too. My hurricane sqds are very slow at recuperating, he is now escorting his raids with half the Jap air force!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/29/42

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Night Air attack on Chandpur , at 30,25

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 3
B-17E Fortress x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 1 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
107 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 4

Another set of night bombing does not get me the same results as before. A few ACs destroyed or damaged but not a large catch consideirng the numbers based in Chandpur.
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Night Air attack on Diamond Harbor , at 28,23

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 3
G4M1 Betty x 3

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 2

He returns the favour knocking out a B-17 on the ground.
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Day Air attack on Calcutta , at 29,23

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 45
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 21
Ki-21 Sally x 38

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 3 destroyed, 4 damaged
Blenheim IF: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied ground losses:
48 casualties reported

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 31

Well I caught him napping once by not having his bombing raids escorted - he has changed that in the extreme now with oscars and zeros aplenty on escort. I have changed tactics to attack his ground troops in Calcutta with my bombers.
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Day Air attack on Rabaul , at 61,88

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 38

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed, 5 damaged
G3M Nell: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged
H6K2-L Mavis: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 4 destroyed, 23 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
15 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 7

A few of the pesky occupants of Rabaul are culled but going in unescorted is not the same as in the UV days where B-17s were nearly indestructable. I loose 5 today and he only had 10 defending zeros. I retreat them back to Charter Towers to recuperate.
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Day Air attack on TF, near Trimcomalee at 15,25

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36

Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 10 destroyed

Woops - my swordfish at Columbo meet his very hefty defense now flying above Trimcommalee and loose all but one of their number.
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Day Air attack on TF at 18,22

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
G3M Nell x 4
Ki-21 Sally x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
MSW Eland Dubois, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

One of the ships fleeing Madras harbour meets it's fate. 5 other ships headed towards Diamond Harbour first and are now going to try and head south between Trim and Andaman Island. The KB has disappeared and I wouldn't be too surprised if it is trying to hunt reinfrocements on their way from Oz. I have laid a few tripwire ships on likely headings but not nearly enough to give me full coverage.
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Ground combat at Kungchang

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 263013 troops, 2704 guns, 594 vehicles

Defending force 6030 troops, 15 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 1781 to 1

Japanese ground losses:
8 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
1738 casualties reported
Guns lost 9

Now this was a pain. As I worte I am trying to get the Chinese out of the north on a very long walk through the jungles. Unfortunately the AI decides to head me back into Kungchang instead. He absolutely smashes me.
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Ground combat at Madras

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 19384 troops, 199 guns, 9 vehicles

Defending force 2922 troops, 36 guns, 3 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 30 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Madras base !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 5 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
157 casualties reported
Guns lost 7
Vehicles lost 2

Allied ground losses:
72 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

The loss of Madras means another very useful port and airfield from which he can dominate Indian skies.
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Calcutta's trial period is about to begin. It has the most defense and the greatest fort level of any of the cities I have tried to hold so far. That doesn't take away from the fact that I am still massively outgunned.

On the plus side of the ledger the base units that had been making very slow progress through the jungles north of Rangoon are now on the rail line. This allows me to cross the river and start moving the Burma forces back to the defense of India. A Malay Brigade and the Oz 22nd Brigade are half way across the jungle track. They now have the slow part of the trip to finish so they are still a month away.

The defenders (hmm) of Madras are retreating on Bangalore. There they will meet up with a Brigade of the 18th UK Dvision. Not much to hold his 55th Division but better than the nothing I now have there. The final Brigade is continuing on to Calcutta.

All of the aircraft which have been opeerating out of Diamond harbour are moved to Jamshedpur. A bombing raid on his ground troops is organised. He has so many fighters on escort that I doubt he has any on LRCAP abovve his troops. Time to tell him he has many jobs to do in this part of the world.

In Mandalay I move in some Wirriways to try and coax my bombers to attack his naval units passing up the coast. It is possible I am forcing them to their deaths as they may be being LRCAPed from Akyab but nothing ventured nothing gained.

I sortied the CLAA Columbo from Diamond harbour last turn. She manages to go undetected for a whole turn and hence survives it.

Hermes still makes good time North. She is now adjacent to the gap between Java and Sumatra.

last day of April - I can upgrade British air units from next turn!

The 2nd Oz has started North at about Broome.

In Lunga a transport misison with many surface unit attached is taking the vehicles of the engineering unit I fast transported in a while ago - newby mistake - forgot that they can't be carriered on Warships.

A vast Armada now resides in Pearl. Things are slowly coming otgether for Rapier. I will probably strike just as he gives up on me...

(in reply to Hornblower)

Post #: 225

RE: Madras Falls - 12/7/2004 1:47:12 AM

Strv103C

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Joined: 11/28/2004
From: Sweden
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April is also the last month of zero advantage. Things can only get worse... from a jap point of view!

(in reply to wobbly)

Post #: 226

RE: Madras Falls - 12/7/2004 2:09:49 AM

Hornblower

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From: New York'er relocated to Chicago
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I agree with Strv103C.. hang on- no matter how bad, and it can only be up from here. i still must say this is a great AAR, and gives an importance to india that i think few-including mysleft- is due..

(in reply to Strv103C)

Post #: 227

RE: Madras Falls - 12/7/2004 4:15:02 AM

witpqs

Posts: 26087
Joined: 10/4/2004
From: Argleton
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Wobbly,

If what I read on another thread is accurate, be careful about him flanking you. Bases that get free supply lose it forever once they are captured, even after they are recaptured by their original owner. That means a gambit to take Bombay and Karachi could have long-term effect if it succeeds. You would wind up having to get supplies all the way to India!

(in reply to wobbly)

Post #: 228

RE: Madras Falls - 12/7/2004 4:34:13 AM

wobbly

Posts: 1095
Joined: 10/16/2002
From: Christchurch, New Zealand
Status: offline

The loss of Bombay or Karachi would be a game loser in my opinion. In 15 days I get the 5th Division and another Brigade. Hopefully they will be enough to stop a naval based attack unless he tries it in complete strength. He has 17 units now in Calcutta and I am bombarding this turn so I will see what they are made up of - I need to know this as to whether he is withdrawing to invade elsewhere. Trying to outflank me via the rail network will be too slow. He really has caught me napping because he has used his transports. If he was to try and take Karachi and Bombay I would look to sacrifice the Royal Navy to smash up his invasion.

Now that I am pulling back to Mandalay with the bulk of the UK based army (the Chinese are taking over). The Dakotas will be working overtime to get units across to airfields behind the lines of the main front in Calcutta. There is no way that I can remove him from India in the near future - but his willy nilly taking of locations is going to be harder to achieve.

If I can get the Oz Kittyhawks in and get them escorting B-17 and Wellington raids, I will really start to inflict damage. Alot of the damage he has caused has been due to the SUPPORT he has used - bombardment and air forces. He no longer has the zero bonus (Zeros are still superior but Tomahawks, Warhawks, Kittyhawks et al should now have a chance). I think - well I hope - India will now become a location of pain. As he starts to require more effort to keep superiority I open the second front - remember I have resisted without utilising US assets (OK so one P-40E sqd and 1 Grp of B-17s). All their power - which is still small granted - is getting ready for Rapier. I hope it lives up to expectations!

(in reply to witpqs)

Post #: 229

RE: Madras Falls - 12/8/2004 1:26:59 PM

EUBanana

Posts: 4552
Joined: 9/30/2003
From: Little England
Status: offline

quote:

As he starts to require more effort to keep superiority I open the second front - remember I have resisted without utilising US assets (OK so one P-40E sqd and 1 Grp of B-17s). All their power - which is still small granted - is getting ready for Rapier. I hope it lives up to expectations!

It is the Pink Empire's sad lot in life in WW2 to nobly hold the line and be slaughtered doing so.

I think you are at your nadir now from what I can see, you'll be on the up from now on. Spitfires soon, and presumably some more ground troops in Karachi fairly soon, and your Burma army is coming online. You don't need to kick him out of India to win, just tie him down where he is now for a while, and that seems to be in your power.

This is my fave AAR, keep it up.

(in reply to wobbly)

Post #: 230

RE: Madras Falls - 12/8/2004 11:41:15 PM

wobbly

Posts: 1095
Joined: 10/16/2002
From: Christchurch, New Zealand
Status: offline

It has turned relatively quiet in the Pacific War.

EUBanana - yep I am starting to get the feeling all is not lost and as long as I don't run stupidly into a still very dangerous opponent that I will begin to prevail. Thanks fo rthe vote of confidence - more for you to read:

As of 1st May I upgraded 4 Blenheim sqds to Wellingtons and 1 to Beauforts. It will therefore take a few days to get the bombers repaired and operational. After one day of repair many have already been repaired - Wellingtons appear to be easier on the mechanical muscle than B-17s!

This turn I send the B-17s after Chandpur airbase with Warhawk escort. It is obvious, after the first attack of the month, that the teeth the zeros have shown up to now are starting to blunten. I attacked Calcutta and flew into his LRCAP and as many zeros were knocked down as P-40s.

Calcutta is now at level 8 forts and 20% to 9. We are bombarding each other at the moment - no doubt he is trying to remove disruption from crossing the river into Calcutta. Importantly only 5 of the Divisions that attacked Dacca are at Calcutta. Is the other still defending Dacca or is it moving to shipping and assignment elsewhere....

He currently has no base unit at Madras and I am trying to hit the ships he has in port but the ACs refuse to fly - the base may have zeros from Trim flying above it.

The weather has at last been beneficial to me - the KB has been locked in by clouds and has not really been able to attack the ships that left Madras. The CLAA Columbo may even have escaped by going close to Andaman Island. It may be more beneficial to aim at Australia rather than return to Western India.

This turn he recons Lahore (I am away from the map - the city up the northern railline in India). This is another clever ploy as I know he has used paras to take back block locations. I therefore move my two Dakota units to Asansol and they will move a part of an Indian Division there to Lahore. Even if he isn't planning another paradrop this recon has forced me to deplete my frontline - he is such a canny character is the Norwegian!

All of the units of the Rangoon blocking force have now moved back across the river. I really don't know what this will insigate from PzB. They were stopping 2 Divisions and a tank unit from going anywhere else and he may decide to change this now. The blocking force will retire to Mandalay while 6 Chinese Divisions and an HQ will set up over the river from Rangoon. I have managed to hang on to Burma because he decided to take India. While I don't want to loose too much more of India I also think I have enough force - if I retreat carefully - to hold most of Burma as well.

The P-40s at Port Moresby are retired to replenish their numbers in peace - another base unit has been unloaded and the capacity of PM has increased to 135 air support - more are slated to go there.

Operation Rapier may have to be postponed. PzB has looked at the map and it is reasonably obvious where I would target: the Marshals. Suddenly there are 4 bases with air units and Kwajalein is now being reported as holding 14 units. This is a great pity as I have 4 Divisions all but loaded onto their transports but I do have to face facts. An attack on the Marshals is utterly dependant on the Carriers for air support. With 4 bases able to attack from numerous directions, and while he has zeros and Betties with good experience; then I will take heafty losses. I need a location that I can get relative air superiority and lanes of retreat. He also still has the light carriers - they may not be as worrying as the KB but in the middle of an invasion, with 4 bases in the mix, then the Carriers would be overwhelmed. They would pay and so would the troops.

Therefore two new operations have been dusted off:

Operation Nighthawk: The capture of the Gilberts and more specifically, Tarawa. The beauty of Tarawa is I have very good intelligance about the location - 7 units but only 700 men. Also there is only the single airbase unit in the Gilberts - Tarawa itself.

Operation Whiskey: Hopefully not instigated in a drunken stupor. The invasion of Rabaul. He has decided to reinforce the Marshals and this has been to the detriment of the bases around New Britain. Only the Shortlands and Lae have any airfields in use. Shortlands, the most dangerous, is still only size 1. Lae can be heavily supressed from PM. Therefore Rabaul is quite isolated. I can also support the invasion with B-17s out of PM and Lunga is slowly coming online.

In San Francisco some of the ships damaged in the DEI and Pearl harbour attacks get their last coats of paint: CA San Francisco, CA Minneapolis, BB California, and BB Oklahoma is doing nicely - down to 17 SYS.

(in reply to EUBanana)

Post #: 231

RE: Madras Falls - 12/9/2004 12:29:53 AM

Strv103C

Posts: 90
Joined: 11/28/2004
From: Sweden
Status: offline

Yes, it looks better, indeed. And of course there is the all important upgrade on Hermes from Glads to Fulmars!

Why not take a look at wake and Marcus islands? Yes, they have small harbors and airfields but if you take Marcus it will threaten him I think. It is just so annoying for the jap to have allied troops that close to Japan.

(in reply to wobbly)

Post #: 232

RE: Madras Falls - 12/9/2004 12:50:03 AM

witpqs

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Being 15 hexes from Tokyo, is Marcus a trigger for kamikaze? Or, is there a date involved also?

(in reply to Strv103C)

Post #: 233

RE: Madras Falls - 12/9/2004 1:01:11 AM

Strv103C

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15 hexes from, Tokyo, Takao or Saigon and no earlier than Jan 1st 1944. Marcus is exactly 15 hexes from Tokyo.

< Message edited by Strv103C -- 12/8/2004 11:03:28 PM >

(in reply to witpqs)

Post #: 234

RE: Madras Falls - 12/9/2004 2:04:00 AM

wobbly

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Hell I don't need kamikazes as well.

I have to be a little realistic. He is relying on his land based airpower and as much as the KB is a threat it has been the land based ACs that have really done the donkey work for him so far. It is land based air that is defending the Marshals.

Poor Hermes has land based aircraft on its desks - they are pure window dressing: Kittyhawks. Her sea gladiators did get teh upgrade to Fulmars though - watchout IJN!

(in reply to Strv103C)

Post #: 235

RE: Madras Falls - 12/9/2004 2:20:02 AM

madflava13

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I think Tarawa's the best bet... Just bring lots of engineers and supplies with the first wave - get that AF built to size 4 fast and she should be able to hold by herself.

_____________________________

"The Paraguayan Air Force's request for spraying subsidies was not as Paraguayan as it were..."

(in reply to wobbly)

Post #: 236

RE: Madras Falls - 12/9/2004 2:39:27 AM

Strv103C

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Well, yes I guess that if you try an invasion anywhere there will be bettys and nells around faster than the speed of light. But I think that if you take both marcus and wake there will be a lot of islands that he have to guard as the marianas, marchals and the islands around Iwo Jima will be in the frontline, sort of.
I just wonder what use I have of the british carriers? Maybe one should mix them with US carriers to attract some bombs when it gets hot...

Pat

(in reply to wobbly)

Post #: 237

RE: Madras Falls - 12/9/2004 6:40:42 AM

wobbly

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Strv103c - wont I instigate the Kamikazes at Marcus though - isn't this the conclusion we have come to?

He still has a very capable surface fleet - i have seen what he can do with Naval bombardments! I would think Marcus would be hell on earth to keep and just as hard to supply with ACs and engineers.

Well if I can get the kittyhawks in on Hermes she will have gone way up in my value estimations!

(in reply to Strv103C)

Post #: 238

RE: Madras Falls - 12/9/2004 9:25:23 AM

madflava13

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Tell me how Wake or Marcus can be a stepping stone. Neither is a good base to jump off of. Tarawa is the same, except you can find bases within LBA range from Tarawa. I plan to take Wake back in my PBEMs, but more as a recon base than anything. Only Tarawa provides any long term reason to attack. Going after Marcus or Wake to instigate an invasion later on makes no sense to me.

Tarawa supports later landings. Wake and Marcus only provide outposts.

_____________________________

"The Paraguayan Air Force's request for spraying subsidies was not as Paraguayan as it were..."

(in reply to wobbly)

Post #: 239

RE: Madras Falls - 12/9/2004 11:15:53 AM

Strv103C

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From: Sweden
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Okey, Marcus was just a thought from my side and i figure that the price taking it seems higher than the gain at the moment. There are few good logical reasons for taking Marcus as you say, points taken. My thought was that it would be a thorn in the jap side not a jumping stone. Same thing as losing the Johnston island to the jap I imagine. The kamikazes don�t come in for another year and a half even if you are inside those 15 hexes.

cheers

(in reply to madflava13)

Post #: 240

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